Switching to Referral Agent Status
What referral agent status means at Side, how to request the change, and what happens to your billing when you switch.
What Is a Referral Agent?
A referral agent is a licensed real estate agent who remains affiliated with Side but does not actively represent buyers or sellers. Instead, they refer clients to other agents and earn a referral fee when those transactions close. Referral agents are not permitted to show property, write offers, or participate in transaction management.
| Capability | Associate Agent | Referral Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Refer clients to other agents | Yes | Yes |
| Represent buyers or sellers in a transaction | Yes | No |
| Access the Side App | Yes | Limited |
| Monthly platform fee | Yes | No — referral agents are not subject to the standard monthly platform fee |
How to Request the Switch
You cannot change your own role to referral agent directly in the Side App — the request must go through your team Partner or team Lead. Side Support cannot process role change requests independently.
- Contact your team Partner or Team Lead directly and let them know you want to switch to referral agent status. Explain the date you'd like the change to take effect.
- Your Partner submits the role change request through Team Management in the Side App (Account → Team Management → find your name → update role).
- Side processes the role change. You will receive confirmation once your status is updated in the system.
- Confirm with your Partner that any outstanding platform fee charges or transactions have been reviewed before your effective date.
What Changes When You Switch
Your Side App access and transaction permissions change immediately upon role update. Your Partner and Success Manager are notified of the change automatically.
| Area | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Active transactions | Any in-progress transactions must be resolved or reassigned before your switch date. Work with your Partner and any co-agents to ensure nothing is left open. |
| MLS access | Your MLS membership is tied to your license status, not your Side role. Contact your MLS directly if you need to update your membership type. |
| Side App access | You will retain limited access for referral tracking and payment visibility, but transaction creation and management tools will be removed. |
| Platform fee billing | Monthly platform fees stop once your role change is processed. You will not be charged for months where your status is Referral Agent. |
| Tech stack (Okta, tools) | Access to certain tools in your Side tech stack may change. Confirm with your Partner which tools are still available to referral agents on your team. |
Platform Fees and Billing
Referral agents at Side are not subject to the standard monthly platform fee. However, if you were charged a platform fee during a period when you believe you were already a referral agent, contact Side Support with your request and the dates in question — do not contact your Partner to initiate a refund, as billing adjustments must go through the support or payments team.
If you believe you were charged incorrectly after your role change was submitted but before it was processed in the system, provide the date your Partner submitted the change request. Side will review and adjust if the charge falls after the intended switch date.
Common Questions
Yes. Your Partner can submit a role change request at any time to move you back to associate agent status. Reactivating as an associate agent may require additional onboarding steps depending on how long you have been in referral status.
No — role changes must be initiated by your team Partner or Lead through the Team Management section of the Side App. Side Support cannot process role updates directly. If your Partner is unresponsive, contact your Success Manager for escalation.
Referrals you created before switching remain active and will pay out when the associated transaction closes. You can continue to track referral payment status in the Side App under Client Referrals.
Contact Side Support with your name, the date your Partner submitted the role change, and the charge dates in question. The team will review your billing history and issue a correction if applicable.
When you refer a client to another Side agent, your Partner submits a referral agreement through the Side App. Once the transaction closes and funds are received, your referral fee is disbursed per the agreed-upon terms in the RFA.